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MAYA OF THE CARIBBEAN COAST AND YUCATAN PENINSULA 3 Night 4 Day Tour This action-packed tour is recommended for those who enjoy very active days. For a more relaxed tour of the same sites see our 4 night 5 day tour. This tour can be customized to meet your individual interests. For other exciting activities in the Maya Riviera that can be included in your tour, please see our Custom tour page. This tour can also be based out of Merida. Join a small group for this tour March 19-22, 2019 |
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Day 1: At 8 am your driver and guide will pick you up at your hotel (any hotel between Cancun and Tulum) and take you to spectacular Tulum, the most visited of Mayan archaeological sites. Perched atop a cliff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, it is a photographers dream come true! Colorful iguanas bask lazily on rocks in the sun; gentle waves caress the shore. The pristine beach is so beautiful it is almost surreal. It is easy to imagine the ancient Maya landing at this bustling seaport with their canoes filled with trade goods. Tulum has a number of interesting structures from the ancient Mayan world. Graceful columns and elegant carvings give one an appreciation for the architectural achievements of the Maya. Inside the Temple of the Frescoes are fantastic 13th century murals depicting ancient ceremonies. One of the few surviving images of the Mayan goddess of fertility and medicine, Ixchel, can be found here. After lunch to Coba for an afternoon guided tour of these extensive ruins. You may explore the ruins by foot, bicycle or human-powered tricycle. Coba is situated in a lush natural setting filled with many species of animals, birds and butterflies and is a real nature lovers delight. It is also home to the tallest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan. From its top you can see above the jungle canopy for miles in each direction. This vast Mayan archeological site dates from 600-900 A.D. and there were an estimated 100,000 people living in its domain. Then to the Villas Arqueologicas Hotel with excellent restaurant and swimming pool adjacent to the archaeological site in Chichen Itzá. Evening optional light and sound show at the Chichen Itza ruins. Day 2: By overnighting in Chichen Itza you'll beat the "big bus" crowds when you visit majestic Chichen Itzá, the most famous of Mayan archaeological sites and one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World". Chichen Itzá has numerous monuments to explore. El Castillo, or the grand pyramid, has a staircase on all four sides, each with 91 steps that totaled with the last step on top equal the 365 days in a solar year. Other not to be missed highlights of this great ancient city are: the Main Ball Court, which is the largest discovered from the ancient Mayan world; the Sacred Well or Cenote, where archaeologists have discovered a number of well-adorned skeletons of sacrificial victims; the Temple Of The Warriors, with its 1,000 columns dedicated to the warriors of Chichen Itzá; and the Caracol or Observatory. You'll also visit beautiful Cenote Ik Kil and enjoy a buffet lunch there. Then you'll journey on to Uxmal, with a stop at the ruins of Mayapan on the way. Mayapan has a distinctive history in that it was one of the last functional cities of the ancient Maya. Modeled after the buildings of Chichen Itza it is a very well preserved mini-version of that ancient city. Light & sound show at the Uxmal ruins. Your hotel for the night will be the historically restored Hacienda Uxmal near the ruins. Day 3: This morning you visit the magnificent Maya ruins of Uxmal. Uxmal is one of the finest examples of the "Puuc Maya" architectural style. Graced with two of the largest pyramids in the Yucatan and a multitude of incredibly preserved frescos paying homage to the rain god Chac and the serpent god Quetzecoatal, it is a site that inspires both awe and mystery. In the afternoon visit Labna, also home to many Chac masks and a beautiful corbelled arch. One interesting carving is of a Vision Serpent with a human head emerging from its outstretched mouth. Then to historic colonial Merida for the evening. Merida is one of the most elegant and cultured colonial cities in the Maya World. Before the arrival of the Spanish, ancient Maya temples and pyramids dominated the landscape of this large city called T'ho. Stroll the main square, enjoy live traditional music, take a horse drawn carriage tour of the local monuments. You'll overnight at the Hotel Gran Real Yucatan, located 3 blocks from the main square. (If possible, we schedule this for you to be in Merida for "Merida Sunday", a weekly local fiesta with live entertainment and music.) Day 4: Today you journey back to the coast. On the way you'll make a stop at the ancient Maya site of Acanceh. Acanceh has some of the largest and best preserved ancient masks in the Yucatan. Later you´ll stop for lunch in the lovely colonial city of Valladolid. This is a modern Mayan city with an important history where you can experience the best in traditional Yucatecan dishes. You can also shop in the plaza, where authentic Mayan goods are sold. In the afternoon you´ll visit the exquisite ruins of Ek Balam, a Mayan archaeological site with some very distinct features. The wonderfully preserved state of the sculptures and frescos Ek Balam are some of the most outstanding examples of the art of the ancient Maya. Some figures are winged or in a meditative ¨lotus¨ position, one sits headless above the center of the "Witz Monster" (entry to the underworld)". All are beautiful and exquisitely crafted. End of the day we´ll drop you off at any hotel in Cancun or the Riviera Maya. |
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| Cost of this 4 day 3 night FULLY ESCORTED private tour (double occupancy): 2 people $1,425 per person 4 people $955 per person 6 people $810 per person 8 people $700 per person $150 per child for up to 2 children under age 12 sharing hotel room with 2 adults. Infants go for FREE. Contact us about discounted rates for mid-April to November dates (low season). This 4 day 3 night private tour package includes:
Price is based on medium range lodging. If you would prefer less expensive or more deluxe accommodations please contact us about the price difference. Prices for Thanksgiving week, Dec. 18-Jan. 6 and Easter week may be slightly higher. For private groups of 9 or more people, please contact us for further discounted prices. |
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For more information or to make a reservation call MayaSites Travel Services: U.S. office toll free 877-620-8715 Outside of the U.S. (1) 505-255-2279 Or e-mail us at [email protected] All photographs and text Copyright 2000-2018 by MayaSites Travel Services. All rights reserved. |